Car-coupling



(No Mod W. RIC ARDS. GAR GOUPLING Patented Sept. 29, 1891 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

NVILLIAM RICHARDS, OF BIG SPRINGS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,402, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application filed June 20, 1891.

To 61/ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Big Springs, in the county of Logan, State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-(louplin gs, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inlink-lifters for carcouplings; and, it has for its objects, amongothers, to provide an improved lifter by which the link will be taken upand guided to the center of the opposite draw-head and prevented fromslipping or jostling to one side or the other.

The lifter is so constructed as to form a support for the link for thegreater portion of its length, so that it will not sag and fail toreadily enter the center of the mouth of the opposing draw-head. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough portions of two cars provided with my improvement, the latterbeing shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan of my improvement inposition, holding the link in its horizontal position. I

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both views where theyoccur.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates aportion of the end of a car, and A the like portion of an opposing carof known construction, and B are the draw-heads of the cars. Thesedrawheads may be of any well-known or approved forms and provided withavertical opening for the reception of the coupling-pin C and the mouthadapted to receive the link D of ordinary construction.

My improved lifter E. is journaled in suitable eyes or bearings a uponthe under side Serial No. 896,949. (No model.)

of the car, as shown, and is provided with extended ends, whichconstitute the handles 12, by which the lifter is manipulated. From thebearings the lifter extends forward in parallel portions cl uponopposite sides of the draw-head, as seen best in Fig. 2, and at a pointslightly in front of the draw-head these portions are bent inwardly andin contact with each other at their bends e, where they are bentoutwardly and forwardly at an angle, as shown at f, and thentransversely to form the cross-bar h, as shown in Fig. 2. From thecenter of this cross-bar projects the hook g, which is curved upwardlyand then downwardly, as seen best in Fig. 1. The cross-bar is curveddownwardly upon each side of the forwardly-projecting hook, as shown at'i, to form seats or rests for the link D to hold the latter and preventits moving sidewise.

The operation will be readily understood. The lifter normally hangs downin the position in which it is shown at the right of Fig. 1, out of theway. It is raised beneath the link by the handle at either side of thecar, and as the lifter engages the link the latter falls into the seats1' and is held from slipping sidewise thereby and also by the upwardcurve of the hook g, these features being considered of primeimportance. The angular portions f of the lifter add great strengththereto. The curved hook 9 serves as a guard to prevent the lifter fromentering the opposing draw-head.

WVhat I claim as new is 1. An improved link-lifter for ear-couplings,having at its forward end a hook curved above and below the plane of thelifter and between the inner end of said hook and its journaled end asupport for the link, as set forth.

2. An improved link-lifter for car-coup lings, having at its forward enda cross-bar formed with downward curves to form seats for the link,whereby the latter is prevented from side movement, and a support forthe link between the said cross-bar and the journal of the lifter, asset forth.

3. The improved lifter provided at its forward end with a curved hookextcndingabove and below the plane of the lifter, a cross-bar from whichsaid hook extends, formed with a curved seat upon each side of the hookand 5 to the rear of the said cross-bar with angular portions,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

J. G. HATCHER, S. E. DEARDORFF.

